Jesse Jackson To Make Stop At Bolingbrook, Plainfield Schools

PLAINFIELD, IL — The Rev. Jesse Jackson will make two Will County stops on Wednesday, heading first to Bolingbrook High School at 11 a.m. before visiting John F. Kennedy Middle School in Plainfield. Jackson is slated to meet with students on the 63rd anniversary of the historic Brown v. the Board of Education ruling, which found school segregation to be unconstitutional.

Plainfield School District Community Relations Director Tom Hernandez said Jackson's visit was made possible after JFK eighth-grader Kayla Austin wrote about the Civil Rights movement for a class research project and sent Jackson a letter.

"As it turns out, Kayla’s mom is friends and works with Rev. Jackson through her consulting firm," Hernandez said in an email. "Obviously, we are very proud, honored and excited that our students will be able to meet and talk to Rev. Jackson, who is a Civil Rights icon."

Jackson is slated to have lunch with school and district officials before speaking with teacher Jennifer Gruca's eighth-grade language arts class from 1 to 2 p.m., Hernandez said.

Photo: Rev Jesse Jackson Sr stands in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on October 10, 2012 in Washington, DC. Credit: Mark Wilson / Staff / Getty Images News